The Prime Minister has told the M.E.N. that retired police officers who lift the lid on cover-ups of child sex abuse should NOT be prosecuted.

David Cameron made the pledge in answer to a question put to him by the M.E.N.

It came after a retired police officer made a claim to the M.E.N. that he was threatened with the Official Secrets Act after he found former Rochdale MP Cyril Smith in the home of a known sex offender, with two drunk teenage boys, and a police sergeant in civilian clothes.

He alleges he was summoned to a meeting the next day with a senior officer and mentoring officer at Stockport Police Station and told ‘in no uncertain terms’ to say nothing about it.

The officer, then a young beat bobby, had been sent there after a complaint that the occupier had been committing a lewd act in his window in front of a newspaper boy.

Former Rochdale MP Cyril Smith

The M.E.N. asked Mr Cameron that after Sir Peter Fahy had reassured retired police officers that there will be ‘no prospect’ of prosecution under the official secrets act for whistleblowing over corruption related to historic child abuse, could he confirm this is the case.

In a statement issued to the M.E.N. Mr Cameron said: “Justice Goddard (chairing an independent inquiry into child sex abuse) is perfectly able to ask the Attorney-General to ensure no one can incriminate themselves when they give evidence. That has happened in all previous commissions of inquiry like this.

“As far as giving evidence to the IPCC inquiry goes, the Home Secretary has clearly said she would not expect to see prosecutions. And when it comes to disclosure to the press, the AG said it was highly unlikely someone who revealed wrongdoing would be subject to prosecution.”

As reported by the M.E.N., the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints will supervise an investigation into the retired officer’s allegation that Smith being at the home of a known sex offender in Stockport was covered up.

The inquiry will part of Operation Clifton launche d in July to look at how previous reports of child sex abuse were handled or allegedly covered up.

It has also been claimed that Scotland yard officers were told not to continue with an investigation into claims Smith was abusing boys in London.